The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-03-19

Finally it is ofF-Dunham in the stern, |
and the sturdy sailors bending the ash
dangerously. "Can he hold outP"
"Oh, yes; can't you see himP He's
treading water" "No, he's floating"
anyhow, he keeps up bravely."
"How slow the boat goes!" "Why
don't they pulp" In fact, the boat
was cutting the water like frightened
fish. Men on the ship involuntarily
bent and strained, as though they could
help in that way. The boat nears the
floating object, now only speck in the
distance. A joyful murmur goes up
from the ship. "He's saved!' "Oh
those strong men!" But Durham
sheers the boat around, and picks up
only hat and holds it high in the air.
The owner had long since sunk. By
the time the tired crew were taken on
board and the vessel under Roadway, it
was dark. They made Astoria by mid
night, and lay to alongside the wharf.
The wind freshened during the night,
and by morning a heavy gale, filled
with salt spray, was driving in directly
from the sea. The pilot reported that
it would be impossible to cross the bar
in such blow. So they waited. Dun
hams presentment of bad luck had
been strengthened by the loss of the
man from the ship, and he was more
nervous and gloomy than when he left
home. SO he took his boy and went
ashore. He went to the house Of
friend and left joey there, with orders
to return toPortland by the first steamer
that should 90 up. He also wrote a
letter to his wife-a little longer than
usual, almost two pages, and little
more affectionate than usual He ex-
cused himself for writing by telling her
that the bar was so bad they couldn't
cross, and it was little too dull to stay
there doing nothing.
By ten o'clock the squall had abated,
and by noon the pilot said he thought
he could get over the bar by taking the
north channel. While the tiremen were
getting up steam, Durham ran over TO
his friends house-it was only few
steps-and babe Joey goodbye, and
told him to be a good boy and
mind his mother, and gave him sundry
other items of good advice which i fear
the young scapegrace did not attend to
closely, being engaged in the very
amusing game of see-saw with the lit
tie girl of the house.
BY three o'clock the ship was fairly
under way again. BY five, she was
safely over the bar, and had put her
pilot aboard a steamer which was wait
ing on the outside to enter. The Cap
tain, having been up all the previous
night, went to his cabin and turned in
for the night The passengers were all
either sea-sick or chilled by the cold
wind, and had gone to their rooms and
into the cabin. The wheelman, by or.
ders from Durham, made out Cape Dis.
appointment and Tillamook Head, and
took his ranges from them and put
the ship on her course He had only
time to do this when foe
rolled up, so dense that even the ligh
on Cape Disappointment could scarcely
be seen. Durham assured himself tha
the ship was on the right course by
going in the wheelhouse and looking
for himself. Having done this, anC
knowing the coast perfectly, he fel
pretty safe. He was little confused
and nervous, however, and so he wen
down to the cabin and overhauled hi
charts, and read the sailing directions
Just as though he had never made tn,
trip before. He seemed to be all right
Bring your vessel in range with Cap,
{ Disappointment and Tallamook Head
and then put her about south by east,
He had done this fifty times before
. and had come out all right. To b
sure that no mistake had been made
{ he climbed up TO the whcel-house, ant
quietly asked the man at the whee
how he had got his range. He an
swercd promptly and satisfactorily
Every thing was according to orders
f So Durham cursed his nervousness
t and walked back to the smoke-stack.
: The wind had gone down with tn
A sun, but heavy sea was running, an,
it was as dark as Tartarus. Dunbar
| paced the deck for half an hour, the
c went below 10 get mis- cloak. Bein
: chilly, he went up to the hurrican
i. deck and sat with his back to tn
G smoke-stack. Being nervous, he lit
cigar. Being careful, he walked fol
5 ward to see how things were moving
n He thought he heard a distant roar II
/, listened, and could hear nothing. II
J. walked back to the smoke-stack. l
v ten minutes he came forward again
He thought he heard the roar of I'll
l. surf He called to the man at til
@ wheel:
= "Abbott?"
r CAV, av, sir"